The Story of Joseph and His Coat of Many Colors DLTK's Bible Activities for Kids The Story of Joseph and His Coat of Many Colors ( Genesis Chapter 37 to 45) Joseph was given a colorful coat by his dad Jacob and then, with the help of God, had to deal with the jealousy of his brothers. This section includes crafts, coloring pages, worksheets, songs and other activities to help teach this story to young children and incorporate it into other education like vocabulary lessons. The Story of Joseph Joseph, the Coat of Many Colors, and Egypt: The Ultimate Story of Ascension Joseph, the Coat of Many Colors, and Egypt: The Ultimate Story of Ascension by Joshua Tilghman on December 27, 2012 This post will begin a two-part series focusing on how the Biblical Joseph undertakes the spiritual journey of ascension to become the Old Testament version of the Christ. What Joseph experiences in the story mirrors our lives as we go through the darker nights of the soul to emerge victorious over the ego and experience the spiritual resurrection. It is important for you to realize that while Joseph is a type and shadow of the Christ, Joseph is also a type and shadow of that which resides in you!

The kingdom is within you, and so is the Christ! The story of Joseph begins in Genesis chapter 37. We’ll start with verse 3: “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.” Notice how Joseph is singled out by Israel’s love. Literarily this means that a special spiritual journey is in order for the young Joseph, the potential Christ. The next part of the above verse would be quite strange if we interpreted literally. Why would Joseph make him a coat of many colors? This is an obvious symbol of the seven in-body chakras known and taught throughout the ancient world. The chakra colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and white. Interestingly, the first six primary colors are observed in a rainbow from the sun’s white light. White is the color of the crown chakra, which directly relates to our divinity since it is connected with the pineal gland and cerebral cortex. Joseph is also a type of the sun and of Jesus (more on this later). As we go through the story of Joseph, remember that the chakras are gateways between the material and spiritual self.

As we’ll see, Joseph will transition from the son of promise (a physical being) into the Christ (a spiritual being). When the chakras are open and functioning properly, the spirit is able to rise to the crown chakra and fully open its potential to the divine nature within us. Joseph hated and misunderstood because of his destiny Joseph’s brothers already hated him because their father showed favoritism with the coat of many colors. But his brothers hate him more when Joseph tells them his two dreams. In the first dream he and his brothers are binding sheaves in the field. His brother’s sheaves make obeisance by bowing down to Joseph’s sheath. In the second dream the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed down to Joseph. Joseph’s dreams properly introduce us to the theme of this narrative: spiritual ascension. We have already mentioned how the coat of many colors represents the chakras. The seven in-body chakras are important because kundalini energy must flow through them in order for higher consciousness to be achieved. The fact that Joseph’s brothers and parents (sun and the moon) bow down to him means that Joseph is going to balance the Yin / Yang kundalini within the chakra system.

The sun and the moon are obvious symbols to the Yang / male and Yin / female principle. As we will see, the spiritual initiation process in our own lives is usually caused by the dark nights of the soul, also known as the tribulations and trials of our own lives. We may be experiencing ill-health, depression, or general hardships. These are the things that cause our conscious self to reassess our position and hopefully make the necessary changes which involves us to go “within” and to balance ours physical, emotional-mental, and spiritual selves. Notice that this is only Joseph’s dream and has not yet come to pass. This is the potential in him. It also represents the potential that is in us. Hope is never lost, and no matter what you are going through, we must persevere. As we go through the rest of Joseph’s experience, we’ll see how unfair and hard his life seems to get before he comes out victorious as a ruler of his own ego and therefore blessed beyond his wildest dreams.

This New Testament scripture also comes to mind: “…but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost…” (Romans 5:3-5). The Holy Ghost above is the kundalini / chi/ life-force of God that has the potential to rise within everyone. Returning to the story of Joseph, Jacob soon asks him to check on his brethren tending the flock in the Vale of Hebron in Shechem. The Vale of Hebron and Shechem are both significant. Hebron means society and a spell, as in something a charmer would cast. In scripture valleys always represent the lower self. The lower self is always under the spell of physical reality, which hides the higher self and higher reality from us. At this point in the story, Joseph is “wandering” around in the valley looking for his brethren. We all wander around in the Vale of Hebron— knowing only the physical reality we see—until we begin the spiritual ascension process and discover our higher selves through expanded states of consciousness.

“And a certain man found him (Joseph), and, behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, saying, what sleekest thou?” (Genesis 37:15). It is important for us to understand that our senses ultimately betray us because they do not show us the truth – they only show us what appears to be true. But in our human nature is also the inherit yearning to seek that which is greater than our limited self and therefore realize and integrate the higher reality. Joseph finally finds his brethren who have moved on to Dothan. They conspire against Joseph and sell him into slavery. Again, those who remain grounded in physical reality only remain slaves to the senses and passions of the lower self. “And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him; and they took him, and cast him into a pit…” (Genesis 37:23-24). “And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of goats, and dipped the coat in the blood…” (Genesis 37: 31).

Comparing Jesus and Joseph as the Christ in us Briefly consider all the comparisons of Joseph’s life and Jesus. Like Christ, he is put in a tomb (pit). Like Christ, blood is shed (his coat dipped in blood). And as we’ll soon see, like Christ, he is betrayed by silver. The blood on Joseph’s coat symbolizes his physical life, just as the blood of Jesus represents his humanity. Joseph has experienced a metaphorical death by the dipping of his coat in sacrificial blood. Like Jesus, Joseph is going to experience a resurrection. He must first be initiated in Egypt. Soon, he will metaphorically transform from a physical being into a higher spiritual being. Remember, up until this point, Joseph has been living in relative comfort under the shadow and protection of his father Jacob. Jesus also enjoyed the protection of his father until the moment where he asked the father why he was forsaken on the cross. Joseph is now about to leave behind the protection of his own father so that he can become initiated in Egypt (the ego) and eventually rule over his ego. It is similar to Adam and Eve being cast out of the garden of paradise (the unified mind) to experience the ego (the fractured mind).

The Female / Male or Yin / Yang energy necessary for transformation When the male/female energy is balanced and channeled properly, we begin the road to the Christ. In ancient cultures such as the Hindu, Mayan, and Egyptian, serpent kundalini needs to be channeled from the root chakra to the crown chakra in order to activate higher consciousness (spiritual resurrection). But we must understand that kundalini energy is made up of the positive and negative charge and that we operate as electric beings. To better understand these polar charges, we can view the Yin as a feminine, earthly energy. Yang is masculine and symbolizes heavenly, spiritual energy. In Joseph’s current series of unfortunate events, we see both of these principles represented in the story. The pit Joseph is lowered into symbolizes the Yin energy of the earth. I quote the next verse which symbolized the Yang / masculine energy: “Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit…” (Genesis 37:28). The Hebrew word for “lifted up” up here means to ascend. Joseph is about to experience an ascension through the metaphorical death he experienced in the pit.

How is this accomplished? We must finish the verse: “…and they [Joseph’s brothers] sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt” (Genesis 37:28). Remember, this is just the beginning of the initiation process, but it will be completed in Egypt. It is always completed in Egypt (through the ego). I quoted this scripture in an earlier post, but it is also relevant here: “And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where our Lord was crucified. (Revelations 11:8). So you see, Jesus wasn’t really crucified in a literal place. Golgotha and Egypt are esoterically the same place—the mind and the ego! All potential Christ, of which Joseph is a type, are crucified at both Golgotha (place of the skull and therefore the mind) and Egypt (the ego). This is a good place to stop. We’ll pick up the rest of Joseph’s story in Egypt in the next post. For those of you that may be going through very difficult times, I hope you find encouragement in the words below.

How can this knowledge help us? As we learn to cultivate kundalini, you must confront the ego and allow the spirit to rule it instead of it ruling over you. Like Joseph, we must go through the ascension process that will seem hopeless and painful for a while. The trick is to persevere. Do not give up and do not waiver. Not giving up doesn’t mean to sit around believing we can automatically operate in complete conscious faith. True Biblical faith is something that is accomplished with practice by “standing still” and “waiting upon the Lord.” Many have a false understanding of what “standing still” and “waiting upon the Lord means. Standing still and waiting upon the Lord means abiding in meditation. You must actively cultivate Biblical faith by meditating. The entire war of flesh and blood takes place on the battlefield of the mind. But your subconscious belief system, programmed and conditioned through years of input, is much stronger than you think. In fact, it is a stronghold, just like the cities of the valleys and plains that the Israelites had to conqueror in order to reach the Promised Land (the spiritual resurrection). Read Reality Manifestation and the Bible to learn more about this topic.

Positive affirmations, surrounding ourselves with encouragement, and reading posts such as this help you to make a paradigm shift, but these activities are not strong enough to redirect the powerful operation of the subconscious mind alone. Rather, this is accomplished by the spirit / kundalini energy which is raised as we wait upon the Lord (meditate). A regular meditation program is not easy to cultivate. But if it were easy we would all be gurus and ascended masters, wouldn’t we? Blessings! { 4 comments… read them below or add one } Kim December 29, 2012 at 7:14 am Josh, Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors ~ Pictures of Silver Contact Us/Subscribe Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors The record of Joseph is a prime example of someone who stood steadfast on the Word of God regardless of the circumstances. We need to keep in mind that the people at this time didn't have God's Word written down so that they could read it and be comforted and exhorted by it daily like we can. The Bible wasn't written yet, God's promises were passed down from generation to generation by the fathers or Patriarchs.

In contrast to our times, living the presence of God was their lifestyle. We have also seen that not everyone had an ear attuned to God, not everyone reverenced God and worshipped Him. Joseph is the son of Jacob whom God named Israel. He is one of Israel's 12 sons, the second to the youngest. His mother was Rachel, the favorite wife of Israel. At this time culture dictates that the oldest son was the one with authority and should receive the blessing and property when the father dies. The oldest son is the 'second in command' and would run the family in the absence of the father. Now Joseph is the eleventh son, not much authority there, according to culture. But . . . Genesis 37 :3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: [and the first son of Rachel his favorite wife] and he made him a coat of many colours.

[a sleeved garment indicating heirship] :4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.[a severe case of sibling rivalry] At the age of 17, Joseph was out tending sheep one day and God laid some pretty incredible revelation on him: :5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. :6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: :7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. :8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. :10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? :11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. Wow, talk about a break in tradition! God told Joseph that his brothers and parents will bow down to him which angered the brothers considerably. Jacob, his father, knew better than to dispute this information yet he didn't condone it either, the revelation wasn't given to him. Joseph received this revelation twice (which makes it established) and both times he told his family about it. There is an important key to walking in the spirit that Jacob ignores here: Don't tell all you know . Jacob also loved Joseph much and made him a coat of many colors which gave Joseph prominence.

The brothers had become very jealous and angry, so much so that they were moved to do evil. :18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. :19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. :20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. :21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. :22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. :23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; :24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

:25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. :26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? let us sell him to the Ishmeelites , and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. :28 Then there and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph to Egypt . :29 And Reuben returned unto the pit: and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. :30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

[go is the Hebrew word bow - go in, as to hide] His brothers conspired to kill him but at Reuben's request, they decided to sell him into slavery, make a little money off of him and return his coat to Israel covered in sheep's blood. They did not get the money however, because he was found by Midianites and they sold him into slavery . Remember, this is the son that Jacob (Israel) loved. What kind of effect do think this had on him? :30 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; :32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. :33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. :34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, [a sign of mourning for the dead and/or personal disaster] and mourned for his son many days.

:35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. Jacob was so grieved he was going to carry that grief, maybe even wear the sackcloth until he died. The sackcloth is made of coarse goats hair and was a band or kilt that was worn around the waist next to the skin under their garments. It would be a continual reminder. God told Joseph he would rule yet shortly after that he was sold into slavery. What do you think Joseph could be thinking? He was so excited about this revelation that God told him. He was loved by his father, he had no need for his family was not poor by any means, and then what appears to be a tragedy happens to him. Think about and empathize with him, put yourself in his shoes. Yet, there is no indication of any negative thoughts. He didn't question God, he didn't complain and whine about it, he held fast to the promise of God. He ended up being a slave in the house of the captain of the guard to Pharaoh in Egypt.

No matter the circumstances we must stand fast upon God's Word and promises. If we are in need of deliverance it is up to God to bring it to pass in His manner and not what or how we think it should be done. Be at peace and trust Him, believe Him and he will bring it to pass. Philippians 4:6 Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, II Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: I Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. Time and space do not permit me to write the over 900 promises in the Word of God. ~~~~~~~ An interesting note. Just has Jacob had deceived Isaac his father into thinking he was Esau with the skin of a kid on his arms in order to receive God's blessing, he himself was deceived by the blood of a goat into thinking that his favorite son had been killed. From the Coat of Many Colors to a Simple Garment: The Unmaking of Joseph | ReformJudaism.org From the Coat of Many Colors to a Simple Garment: The Unmaking of Joseph From the Coat of Many Colors to a Simple Garment: The Unmaking of Joseph Vayeishev, Genesis 37:1−40:23 Print It is said that clothes make the man. But in this week's portion, Vayeishev, they have a great deal to do with the unmaking of Joseph.

Two garments, the coat of many colors and the undistinguished garment Potiphar's wife strips off of him, end up contributing to his trials, each being a catalyst for his descent to Egypt and to prison, respectively. The first garment that gets Joseph into trouble is the coat of many colors, which his father made for him. The text says, "When his brothers saw that he was the one their father loved, more than any of his brothers, they hated him and could not bear to speak peaceably to him" (Genesis 37:4). Did Joseph flaunt his special gift in front of them? Or was it simply the fact that their father showed favoritism to him with a beautiful present that so upsets them? It is obviously a very special garment; the term is used only one other time in Scripture, referring to the garment worn by King David's daughter, Tamar, likely indicating her royal status (II Kings, 13:18). We can assume at the very least that Joseph wore it with pride and perhaps a bit of smugness at being singled out for this special gift. In any case, when Joseph later approaches his brothers as they tend to their father's sheep, they plot to kill him.

Only Reuben's intervention saves Joseph's life. The brothers strip Joseph of his coat and throw him into a pit and then sell him to a caravan of Ishmaelites. Then they take Joseph's coat, dip it into blood from a goat they had slaughtered, and bring it to their father. Not wanting to lie to their father, the brothers ask "We found this; do you recognize it? Is it your son's coat?" (Genesis 37:32). Avivah Gottleib Zornberg, in analyzing this story observes: "In thrusting Joseph's coat, torn and bloodied, at Jacob, and in saying, 'Please recognize it; is it your son's tunic or not?'-they in fact feed him the words with which he interprets its meaning: 'He recognized it, and said, "My son's tunic! A savage beast devoured him! Joseph is torn in pieces!" ' " (Genesis 37:32-33, cited in Genesis: The Beginning of Desire [Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, 1995], p. 266).

Jacob then immediately tears his clothes as a sign of mourning, which ironically mimics the tearing of the coat off of his son. Zornberg sees a deeper meaning in Jacob's words, which "express the brothers' deep intent. The poignancy of the moment lies not in deception, but in the accurate, if unconscious, decoding of the symbolism of the coat. What the brothers had wanted to do to Joseph-indeed, what they had done to him-is truly articulated by their father. "In a sense, the coat is Joseph. His brothers strip it from him as they fall on him, and before they cast him into the pit" (Zornberg, p. 266). There were unintended consequences: Jacob no doubt thought that the gift of a beautiful coat would make up for the fact that Joseph, one of the youngest brothers, would be picked on by his siblings. Perhaps the gift of a coat would make him feel special. Not only is Joseph stripped of his garment, but also the very garment (along with his dreams) triggers his brothers' jealousy and ultimately fools Jacob into thinking that Joseph is dead. It is hard, though, to feel sorry for Jacob.

After all, he had tricked his father into giving him the blessing meant for Esau with the help of a garment, the hairy coat that Rebekah wrapped on Jacob's hands and neck so that he would resemble his brother (Genesis 27:16). Now, Jacob himself is fooled by a garment. Joseph, meanwhile is brought to Egypt and purchased by Potiphar, an officer in Pharaoh's court. Joseph quickly succeeds, with God's help, and his master takes notice, putting him in charge of everything in his house. Everything, that is, except for Potiphar's wife, who tries to seduce Joseph. Joseph desperately attempts to fend her off, but when they were alone in the house, "she took hold of him by his garment, saying, 'Lie with me!' He left his garment in her hand, fled, and ran outside" (39:12). Joseph does everything right; but his garment-not the coat of many colors that he had earlier, but a nondescript piece of clothing [Hebrew begged]-will betray him. Potiphar's wife shows the garment first to the household servants and then to her husband, accusing Joseph of trying to lie with her.

Just as Jacob falsely concluded by looking at Joseph's garment that Joseph was dead, Potiphar falsely concludes by looking at a different one of Joseph's garments that Joseph is guilty of wanting to lie with his wife. Potiphar immediately takes Joseph to prison. Once again, Joseph's garment proves to be his undoing. The word "garment" is used six times in Genesis 39, verses 12-18, calling attention to this key item in the story. Yet, in contrast to the "coat of many colors," which he proudly donned earlier, this garment appears to have been plain. James L.

Kugel points out, "To modern readers, the word 'garment' might include all manner of expendables, from neck-ties to pocket handkerchiefs to vests or jackets, and Joseph's abandoning his garment therefore has less significance for us than it should." However, he adds, to a biblical Israelite, "the range of possibilities was narrower, and the resultant shame that would have been Joseph's, as well as the financial loss (unless the garment could be recovered), far greater" (In Potiphar's House: The Interpretive Life of Biblical Texts [San Francisco: HarperCollinsPublishers], 1990, p. 97). So, perhaps the loss of this second garment was as significant as the loss of his first one, the coat of many colors. It certainly has a similar effect, once again causing Joseph to descend, this time to prison. Clothing, in and of itself of course, does not cause Joseph's ills. But whether it is fancy or simple, a piece of clothing that becomes an object of jealousy, lies, and deception, can greatly contribute to one's undoing. Rabbi Bruce Kadden is the rabbi at Temple Beth El, Tacoma, Washington.

Rabbi Kadden and his wife, Barbara Binder Kadden, RJE, have written extensively in the area of Jewish education, including co-authoring three books: Teaching Mitzvot: Concepts, Values and Activities; Teaching Tefilah: Insights and Activities on Prayer; and Teaching Jewish Life Cycle: Traditions and Activities. Visit Rabbi Kadden's blog . A Coat of Consciousness and Presence Davar Acher By: Rachel Goldenberg Clothes often evoke powerful memories of the person who wore them. Many have had the poignant, sometimes painful experience of going through the closet of a recently deceased loved one. The person inhabited that coat-that dress. Touching it is as close as I can get to touching him-to feeling her embrace. Picture Jacob holding the bloody coat of his son Joseph as his other sons lie, telling him that Joseph had been devoured by a beast. Jacob cries out, "My son's coat!" (Genesis 37:33). Joseph is out of reach, but the coat immediately evokes his presence. A garment can bring someone's presence out of a dark corner and into our consciousness.

In our parashah, Joseph's garment brings to our awareness a young man who has been thrown into a pit and then sold into slavery in Egypt. Later, after being framed by his master Potiphar's wife, Joseph will dwell in the darkness of Pharaoh's dungeon. Old Testament Student Manual Genesis-2Samuel Genesis 37–50: Joseph: The Power of Preparation Use Notes and Commentary below to help you as you read and study Genesis 37–50 . 2. Complete Points to Ponder as directed by your teacher. (Individual study students should complete all of this section.) Notes and Commentary on Genesis 37–50 (8-2) Genesis 37:3 . What Was the Coat of Many Colors? There is some question as to what Joseph’s coat actually was. The Hebrew word denotes “a long coat with sleeves … i.e. an upper coat reaching to the wrists and ankles, such as noblemen and kings’ daughters wore” (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 1:1:335; note also 2 Samuel 13:18 , which says that the daughters of King David wore similar coats).

The coat may have been of different colors, but its significance seems to have been far more than its brightness and beauty. One noted scholar suggested that it was “a tunic reaching to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; the long tunic with sleeves worn by young men and maidens of the better class; in the case of Joseph, supposed by Bush … to have been the badge of the birthright which has been forfeited by Reuben and transferred to Joseph” (Wilson, Old Testament Word Studies, s.v. “colour,” p. 82). If indeed this coat signaled that Joseph held the birthright, which may have been in question among the brothers because there were four firstborn sons in Jacob’s family , this fact would explain the intense hostility and jealousy the coat provoked among the other sons of Jacob. The following brothers could easily have thought that they should have had the birthright. Reuben. He was the firstborn of all the sons. Although he had lost the right (see Reading 7-28 ), he may not have accepted that fact. Simeon.

Since he was the second son of Leah and next in line following Reuben, he could have assumed the birthright would come to him after Reuben lost his right to it. Judah. He could have argued that not only Reuben had lost the right, but so had Simeon and Levi, through the massacre of the Shechemites (see Genesis 34 ). The disqualification of these sons would make him the rightful legal heir. Dan. Because his mother, Bilhah, was considered Rachel’s property, he could argue that he was Rachel’s firstborn, not Joseph, and therefore should have received the birthright when Reuben lost it. Gad. He was the firstborn son of Zilpah and therefore could easily have thought he should have taken the birthright after Reuben forfeited it. Joseph’s dreams (see Genesis 37:5–11 ), which clearly signified future leadership, only added to the resentment among the brothers. Joseph was rejected by his brothers, the Israelites, as was Jesus (see Genesis 37:4 ; John 1:11 ; Isaiah 53:3 ; 1 Nephi 19:13–14 ). 3.

Joseph was sold by his brothers into the hands of the Gentiles, just as Jesus was (see Genesis 37:25–27 ; Matthew 20:19 ). 4. Judah, the head of the tribe of Judah, proposed the sale of Joseph. Certain leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ day turned Jesus over to the Romans. Judas (the Greek spelling of Judah) was the one who actually sold Jesus. (See Genesis 37:26 ; Matthew 27:3 .) 5. Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age. Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave His age. (See Genesis 37:28 ; Matthew 27:3 ; Exodus 21:32 ; Leviticus 27:5 .) 6. In their very attempt to destroy Joseph, his brothers actually set up the conditions that would bring about their eventual temporal salvation—that is, Joseph, by virtue of being sold, would become their deliverer.

Jesus, by His being given into the hands of the Gentiles, was crucified and completed the atoning sacrifice, becoming the Deliverer for all mankind. 7. Joseph began his mission of preparing salvation for Israel at age thirty, just as Jesus began His ministry of preparing salvation for the world at age thirty (see Genesis 41:46 ; Luke 3:23 ). 8. When Joseph was finally raised to his exalted position in Egypt, all bowed the knee to him. All will eventually bow the knee to Jesus. (See Genesis 41:43 ; D&C 88:104 .) 9. Joseph provided bread for Israel and saved them from death, all without cost. Jesus, the Bread of Life, did the same for all men. (See Genesis 42:35 ; John 6:48–57 ; 2 Nephi 9:50 .) (8-20) Genesis 47:9 . Were Jacob’s Days “Few and Evil”?

In comparison with Abraham, who lived 175 years, and Isaac, who lived to be 180, Jacob’s 130 years to this point could be described as smaller or “few.” The word which is translated as “evil” actually means “sorrowful” or “full of toil and trouble.” Remembering Jacob’s flight to Haran to escape Esau’s wrath, his years of labor for Laban, his wives and their contentions, his pilgrimage in the land of Canaan, the death of Rachel, and his years of sorrowing for the loss of Joseph contributes to a better understanding of why he would say his days were full of trouble and toil. (8-21) Genesis 48:5–11 . What Additional Information about Joseph’s Seed Do We Learn from the Joseph Smith Translation?

Joseph Smith made the following changes in this passage when he worked on the inspired translation of the Bible: “And now, of thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto thee into Egypt; behold, they are mine, and the God of my fathers shall bless them; even as Reuben and Simeon they shall be blessed, for they are mine; wherefore they shall be called after my name. (Therefore they were called Israel.) “And thy issue which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance, in the tribes; therefore they were called the tribes of Manasseh and of Ephraim. “And Jacob said unto Joseph when the God of my fathers appeared unto me in Luz, in the land of Canaan; he sware unto me, that he would give unto me, and unto my seed, the land for an everlasting possession.

“Therefore, O my son, he hath blessed me in raising thee up to be a servant unto me, in saving my house from death; “In delivering my people, thy brethren, from famine which was sore in the land; wherefore the God of thy fathers shall bless thee, and the fruit of thy loins, that they shall be blessed above thy brethren, and above thy father’s house; “For thou hast prevailed, and thy father’s house hath bowed down unto thee, even as it was shown unto thee, before thou wast sold into Egypt by the hands of thy brethren; wherefore thy brethren shall bow down unto thee, from generation to generation, unto the fruit of thy loins for ever; “For thou shalt be a light unto my people, to deliver them in the days of their captivity, from bondage; and to bring salvation unto them, when they are altogether bowed down under sin.” ( JST, Genesis 48:5–11 .) (8-22) Genesis 48:22 . How Did Jacob Give to Joseph “One Portion” More Than to His Brothers?

“Joseph, son of Jacob, because of his faithfulness and integrity to the purposes of the Lord, was rewarded with the birthright in Israel. It was the custom in early times to bestow upon the firstborn son special privileges and blessings, and these were looked upon as belonging to him by right of birth. Reuben, the first of Jacob’s sons, lost the birthright through transgression, and it was bestowed upon Joseph, who was the most worthy of all the sons of Jacob [ 1 Chronicles 5:1–2 ]. “When Jacob blessed Joseph, he gave him a double portion, or an inheritance among his brethren in Palestine and also the blessing of the land of Zion—‘the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.’ He also blessed him with the blessings of heaven above, of the deep which lieth under, and of posterity [ Genesis 49:22–26 ].

Jacob also blessed the two sons of Joseph with the blessings of their father, which they inherited, and he placed Ephraim, the younger, before Manasseh, the elder, and by inspiration of the Lord conferred upon Ephraim the birthright in Israel.” (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:250–51.) (8-23) Genesis 49:1–20 . What Criterion Was Used in Determining Which Tribes Would Have Prominence? “Through a careful study and consideration of the blessings of the Lord pronounced through Jacob, upon his twelve sons, it is evident that they were not to share equally in the promises of the Lord. “It is evident that the blessings given to Judah and Joseph were choice above the blessings pronounced upon their brothers.” (Richards, Israel! Do You Know? pp. 9–10.) One’s activities in his premortal life had an influence on his being born into a particular situation on this earth. President Harold B.

Lee made this observation: “‘When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.’ ( Deut. 32:8 .) “Now, mind you, this was said to the children of Israel before they had arrived in the ‘Promised Land,’ which was to be the land of their inheritance. “Then note this next verse: ‘For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.’ ( Deut. 32:9 .) “It would seem very clear, then, that those born to the lineage of Jacob, who was later to be called Israel, and his posterity, who were known as the children of Israel, were born into the most illustrious lineage of any of those who came upon the earth as mortal beings. “All these rewards were seemingly promised, or foreordained, before the world was. Surely these matters must have been determined by the kind of lives we had lived in that premortal spirit world.

Some may question these assumptions, but at the same time they will accept without any question the belief that each one of us will be judged when we leave this earth according to his or her deeds during our lives here in mortality. Isn’t it just as reasonable to believe that what we have received here in this earth life was given to each of us according to the merits of our conduct before we came here?” ( “Understanding Who We Are Brings Self-Respect,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, p. 5.) In Deuteronomy 33:6–29 , Moses recounted again the blessings given to each tribe. This passage should be studied and compared to Jacob’s original blessings recorded in Genesis 49 . (8-24) Genesis 49:8–12 . What Significant Portion of the Birthright Blessing Was Given to Judah? The blessing given to Judah indicates that kings would come from his lineage (see 1 Chronicles 5:1–2 ; Hebrews 7:14 ). Old Testament history teaches that this promise was fulfilled. King David, King Solomon, and King Rehoboam are just three of the kings who came through Judah’s lineage.

The King of Kings, Jesus Christ, referred to here as Shiloh, also came through this line. Elder Ezra Taft Benson said of this promise: “The great blessing to Judah is that it contemplated the coming of Shiloh who would gather his people to him. This prophecy concerning Shiloh has been subject to several rabbinic and Christian interpretations and the object of considerable controversy. The interpretation given this passage by the Mormon Church is one based on revelation to modern prophets, not on scholarly commentary. It was revealed to Joseph Smith that Shiloh is the Messiah. (See [ JST, Genesis 50:24 ].)” ( “A Message to Judah from Joseph,” Ensign, Dec. 1976, p. 71.) (8-25) Genesis 49:22–26 . What Is the Significance of Joseph’s Blessing? “There are several things to be understood in the prophecy. First, he should become a multitude of nations. We understand what this means. In the second place, his branches should run over the wall. Now what does this mean? The Lord in ancient times had a meaning for everything.

It means that his tribe should become so numerous that they would take up more room than one small inheritance in Canaan, that they would spread out and go to some land at a great distance. … “Joseph’s peculiar blessing, which I have just read to you, was that he should enjoy possessions above Jacob’s progenitors to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills. This would seem to indicate a very distant land from Palestine.” (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 14:9.) The seed of Joseph came to the land of America at the time Lehi and his family departed from the Mediterranean world. The land of America is specifically designated by the Lord as the land reserved for “a remnant of the house of Joseph” ( 3 Nephi 15:12 ). (8-26) Genesis 49:26 . America Is the Land of the “Everlasting Hills” “I suppose that Jacob saw this land as well as Moses, and he designates it a land afar off; the utmost bounds would signify a very distant land. He said this land was over and above, what his progenitors gave to him and he would give it to Joseph.

… The precious things of heaven were to be given to Joseph on this land. Blessed of the Lord be his land for the precious things of heaven, more precious than the fullness of earth, more precious than the productions of the various climates of the earth, more precious than the grain, and the gold and silver of the earth. The precious things of heaven revealed to the people of Joseph on the great land given to them unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills.” (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 18:167–68.) (8-27) Genesis 50:24 . The Prophecies of Joseph In 2 Nephi 3 , the prophet Lehi told his son Joseph of the great prophecies of their progenitor, Joseph who was sold into Egypt. These prophecies were evidently on the brass plates that Lehi had but have been lost from our present Bible. Through revelation, Joseph Smith restored the lost scriptures by adding thirteen verses between Genesis 50:24 and 25 of the King James Version. Because of their significance for Saints of the latter days, the verses are reprinted here.

(They are also found in the appendix of the LDS edition of the King James Version of the Bible.) “And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die, and go unto my fathers; and I go down to my grave with joy. The God of my father Jacob be with you, to deliver you out of affliction in the days of your bondage; for the Lord hath visited me, and I have obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of my loins, the Lord God will raise up a righteous branch out of my loins; and unto thee, whom my father Jacob hath named Israel, a prophet; (not the Messiah who is called Shilo;) and this prophet shall deliver my people out of Egypt in the days of thy bondage. “And it shall come to pass that they shall be scattered again; and a branch shall be broken off, and shall be carried into a far country; nevertheless they shall be remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Messiah cometh; for he shall be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the Spirit of power; and shall bring them out of darkness into light; out of hidden darkness, and out of captivity unto freedom.

“A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins. “Thus saith the Lord God of my fathers unto me, A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren. “And he shall bring them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers; and he shall do whatsoever work I shall command him. “And I will make him great in mine eyes, for he shall do my work; and he shall be great like unto him whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel, out of the land of Egypt; for a seer will I raise up to deliver my people out of the land of Egypt; and he shall be called Moses. And by his name he shall know that he is of thy house; for he shall be nursed by the king’s daughter, and shall be called her son.

“And again, a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins; and not to the bringing forth of my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them in the last days; “Wherefore the fruit of thy loins shall write, and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to a knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. “And out of weakness shall he be made strong, in that day when my work shall go forth among all my people, which shall restore them, who are of the house of Israel, in the last days.

“And that seer will I bless, and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise I give unto you; for I will remember you from generation to generation; and his name shall be called Joseph, and it shall be after the name of his father; and he shall be like unto you; for the thing which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand shall bring my people unto salvation. “And the Lord sware unto Joseph that he would preserve his seed for ever, saying, I will raise up Moses, and a rod shall be in his hand, and he shall gather together my people, and he shall lead them as a flock, and he shall smite the waters of the Red Sea with his rod. “And he shall have judgment, and shall write the word of the Lord. And he shall not speak many words, for I will write unto him my law by the finger of mine own hand. And I will make a spokesman for him, and his name shall be called Aaron.

“And it shall be done unto thee in the last days also, even as I have sworn.” ( JST, Genesis 50:24–36 .) Points to Ponder (8-28) Write a short essay entitled “Joseph in Egypt—A Model for Personal Righteousness.” The purpose of the essay is not to summarize the story of Joseph but to show its application to you today. How might a modern Saint use the example of Joseph in his day-to-day living? As you prepare your essay, consider the following: “Joseph vividly demonstrated why he was favored of the Lord, or, as the scriptures said, why ‘the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. … ’ ( Gen. 39 .) His reliance was upon the Lord. His trust was in the Lord, and his allegiance ran to the Lord. “I believe this is the greatest lesson that can be learned by the youth of Zion—to do the right thing because you love the Lord. It is so vitally important that, I feel, if you do anything in righteousness for any other reason than you love the Lord, you are wrong—at least you are on very shaky ground.

And, somewhere your reasons for acting in righteousness will not be strong enough to see you through. You will give way to expediency, or peer group pressure, or honor, or fame, or applause, or the thrill of the moment, or some other worldly reason. Unless your motives are built upon the firm foundation of love of the Lord, you will not be able to stand.” (Hartman Rector, Jr., “Live above the Law to Be Free,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, p. 130.) (8-29) As you reflect on what you have just read concerning the sons of Jacob receiving a blessing from their father, ask yourself what great value each son’s blessing would have to help him meet the challenge of his life. Contemplate the far-reaching effects of that blessing on his posterity and all mankind. As a descendant of Israel, you have many of the same challenges facing you in your life. How can you best use the great truths your blessing contains to help you achieve your maximum potential and be of greatest service to the Lord? Elder Bruce R.

McConkie has commented on this question: “Nearly every member of the Church is a literal descendant of Jacob who gave patriarchal blessings to his 12 sons, predicting what would happen to them and their posterity after them. ( Gen. 49 ; Teachings, p. 151.) As inheritors of the blessings of Jacob, it is the privilege of the gathered remnant of Jacob to receive their own patriarchal blessings and, by faith, to be blessed equally with the ancients. Patriarchal blessings may be given by natural patriarchs, that is by fathers in Israel who enjoy the blessings of the patriarchal order, or they may be given by ordained patriarchs, specially selected brethren who are appointed to bless worthy church members. “The First Presidency (David O. McKay, Stephen L Richards, J.

Reuben Clark, Jr.), in a letter to all stake presidents, dated June 28, 1957, gave the following definition and explanation: ‘Patriarchal blessings contemplate an inspired declaration of the lineage of the recipient, and also where so moved upon by the Spirit, an inspired and prophetic statement of the life mission of the recipient, together with such blessings, cautions, and admonitions as the patriarch may be prompted to give for the accomplishment of such life’s mission, it being always made clear that the realization of all promised blessings is conditioned upon faithfulness to the gospel of our Lord, whose servant the patriarch is. All such blessings are recorded and generally only one such blessing should be adequate for each person’s life. The sacred nature of the patriarchal blessing must of necessity urge all patriarchs to most earnest solicitation of divine guidance for their prophetic utterances and superior wisdom for cautions and admonitions.’” (Mormon Doctrine, p. 558.) Every person who has a father who can bless his children should ask for and receive a father’s blessing when one is needed. In addition, every eligible person in the Church may receive a patriarchal blessing from an ordained patriarch.

One’s patriarchal blessing should be read and reread with intelligent consideration of its meaning. Just as blessings are given through the inspiration of the Lord, so too will their meaning be made clear by the same power. Their fulfillment will be in His hands. Regarding patriarchal blessings, Elder John A. Widtsoe wrote: “These blessings are possibilities predicated upon faithful devotion to the cause of truth. They must be earned. Otherwise they are but empty words. Indeed, they rise to their highest value when used as ideals, specific possibilities, toward which we may strive throughout life. To look upon a patriarch as a fortune-teller is an offense to the Priesthood; the patriarch only indicates the gifts the Lord would give us, if we labor for them. He helps us by pointing out the divine goal which we may enjoy if we pay the price. “Such a blessing, given in the spirit of a father’s love, and sealed upon us in the authority of the Priesthood, becomes a power in our lives; a comfort to our days. It is a message which if read and honored aright, will become an anchor in stormy days, our encouragement in cloudy days.

It states our certain destination here and hereafter, if we live by the law; and as life goes on, it strengthens our faith and leads us into truth.” (Evidences and Reconciliations, 1:74–75.)

Question: The story of Joseph featuring the coat of many colours, appears in which book of the Bible?
Answer: Genesis